"Janet Gross is a hard working colleague who contributes to the department with her warm personality and commitment to teaching"

The Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences awarded Janet Gross, adjunct in Social Science, the Adjunct Appreciation Award for Autumn Quarter. Twice a year, the department gives an award to their top adjunct faculty member and recognizes top teachers in their disciplines.

Other faculty recognized were Michael Masters in Anthropology,Elizabeth Scott-Douglas in Psychology, Donna Karno in Political Science and Marie Mika in Sociology.

“Janet Gross is a hard working colleague who contributes to the department with her warm personality and commitment to teaching,” said assistant professor Traci Little, Ph.D. in the award presentation. “She has worked on creating the curriculum for the State and Local Government class and can always be seen discussing academic issues with colleagues in the department. In addition, she has picked up Capstone students when the department has needed an instructor to fill that need and does so with great enthusiasm that is beneficial to the students and colleagues in the department. Janet teaches a variety of classes from political science to cultural diversity and is a great asset to our department.”

Julie Cronk, a second-year instructor in Biological & Physical Sciences, reports that her students in Biology 175 were featured on a program broadcast by the Big Ten Channel on November 20. The video was taken during Summer Quarter when 10 Columbus State students visited the Olentangy River Wetlands on the OSU campus. In the class, the students studied ecosystems, and Cronk used the site as an example of how ecologists do research. The show has already aired, but you can now see it online at http://vimeo.com/2287323. Be warned: The beautiful scenery and wildlife shown will make you miss the summer!

Gospel Ensemble performs Dec. 6The Columbus State Gospel Vocal Ensemble will present "The Sounds of Joy" on Saturday, December 6, at 7 p.m. in Nestor Auditorium. The Ensemble performs under the direction of Emma Easton with musical direction from her son, Colin. The upcoming concert will feature the joyous sights and sounds of the holiday season, flavored with East Coast gospel. There will also be a tribute to one of the longest tenured choirs on the East Coast, The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Special guests for the evening include local gospel rap artist sensation Lady Xtreme, gospel DJ Alvis Moore, and Bishop Christine McGee. Other special surprises will fill the evening with laughter and joy! For more information about the concert or to find out how to join the Gospel Ensemble, call Easton at 287-5377, ext. 8677.

Lights Out!State law requires that the college decrease energy consumption by 20% by 2014, using 2004 as its baseline. A plan articulating just how each public institution of higher education will attain that goal must be adopted by December 31, 2008.

How are we going to do that? Read the Energy Efficiency Plan approved last week by the Board of Trustees, which can be found on the Sustainability Committee’s intranet site http://intranet.cscc.edu/green/.

While many projects will be implemented in the coming months and years, please help meet the goal of reducing energy consumption each and every day by turning out lights in conference rooms, classrooms and offices when they’re not in use. Every little bit helps!

Chorus to perform Dec. 7 at Museum of ArtChorus Columbus State will perform their annual December concert by performing Brahms’s“Ein Deutsches Requiem” (A German Requiem) on Sunday, December 7, at 3 p.m. in the Columbus Museum of Art’s Darby Court. The concert is free and open to the public. Come listen to this beautiful seven-movement choral performance in a stunning location to start your holiday season!

SAC raises $1,000-plus for Children’s Hunger AllianceThe Staff Advisory Council (SAC) would like to thank Columbus State employees for supporting their efforts on the annual “Lunch Money for a Day Campaign.” On In-Service Day, October 29, donations totaled $1,006.96 for Children's Hunger Alliance.

Band to play 10th anniversary concert Nov. 25As noted in a feature article in Thursday’s Dispatch Weekender,“Passion to perform drums up interest in school ensemble,” Columbus State’s Concert Band is celebrating its tenth anniversary! The group will perform a free concert on Tuesday, November 25, at 8 p.m. in Nestor Hall Auditorium.

The featured guest artist is composer David Mruzek who will conduct his "Lady Liberty March" in its first Ohio performance. Dr. Mruzek, Director of Instrumental Music at Hanover College in Indiana, founded the Columbus State Band when he was an adjunct faculty member here in 1998. Current Band Director Thomas Lloyd took over the instrumental program in 1999.

Three of the original members are still performing with the band. Ann Eblin, principal clarinet and concert master, is an adjunct faculty member; Phil Prentice, principal tuba, is retired from the 122nd Army Band of the Ohio National Guard, and Robert Voss, principal second trombone, is a former Columbus State student.

The program will include the works of Mozart, Percy Grainger, George Gershwin, and contemporary American composer Elliott Del Borgo. Columbus State’s Woodwind Ensemble will play Handel's “Largo,” a folk song set by Tchaikovsky, and "That Moaning Saxophone Rag," composed in 1915 by Tom Brown. The Columbus State Jazz Ensemble will play Richard Rodgers' "Blue Moon." For more information contact Thomas Lloyd.

Wellness Challenge IV at the halfway pointColumbus State Wellness Coordinator Nichole Bowman-Glover reports that the competition is fierce going into the second half of Wellness Challenge IV, with 13 teams competing to be the most “fit” on campus. Currently in the lead are The Determinators, led by Julie VanWynseberghe in HR, with 6,356 points. In second are The DX Warriors, led by Mike Walsdorf, with 4,866 points. And in a close third are the Fiscally Fit, led by Betty Sugar, with 4,147 points. The challenge ends December 5.